Jerzy Gregorek has overcome incredible odds to escape from political troubles and alcoholism before coming to America and dedicating his talent in pursuit of changing lives.

Through Olympic weightlifting success and implementing these fitness techniques in his own programme, he's improving the mindset of clients and increasing both their physical ability and their happiness.

Today, this approach has earned him the attention of the most successful people in the world from his home in Silicon Valley. He's also appeared on podcasts and in books by entrepreneur Tim Ferriss, and he's still going strong over 60 years old.

Watch the full episode on YouTube

In 1986, Jerzy Gregorek left Poland, together with his wife, as political refugees. Since then, they have both won numerous World Weightlifting Championships, founded the UCLA weightlifting team and coached and transformed hundreds of people. Developing The Happy Body programme in response to their clients wanting to remain youthful, Jerzy is in great shape at 64 years old.

This episode of the Escape Your Limits podcast is a history of weightlifting and bodybuilding, personal growth, rolled into improving your mindset regardless of what you're faced with.

The Happy Body programme was created by Jerzy and Aniela Gregorek. They explain its purpose below…

"The most potentially damaging myth about exercise is that its main purpose is to burn calories. This eliminates any joy associated with the activity, making it obsessive and stressful. In addition to discouraging people from actually exercising, this myth also stifles improvement.

"The Happy Body returns joy to the practice of exercise, helping to infuse your body with a sense of dignity. You cannot fall in love with burning calories but you CAN fall in love with exercise, the RIGHT KIND of exercise, properly executed.

"Exercise should relieve the stress that is accumulated on a daily basis, rather than add to it. The approach is one of mindfulness, so the mind is focused at any given moment on what the body is doing."

Episode highlights -

• The importance of having a space to get away from your day-to-day stresses.
• How your mindset is key to weight loss or life changes. You have to enjoy living the life of someone that weighs 120lbs if you want to weigh 120lbs. If you lose weight but still have the mindset of someone that weighs 160lbs, you'll be unhappy and revert back.
• Why you need to find ways of bringing joy to exercise and stop it being all about calorie burn, whether that's for yourself, clients or members.
• How business can build from simple working relationships and favours through microprogressions and developments.
• Why you shouldn't ever hire a trainer that's younger than you, as they won't understand what you're going through.
• How recovery is made up of transitions built up over years, and why it's never a straightforward story whether it's weight loss, personal growth, alcoholism or anything else.
• How to master self control and your own reward system, and why your need for instant gratification can affect so many other aspects of your life.
• Why delayed gratification is the gift of life, and how that's different from purely concentrating on future success.

Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Jerzy Gregorek…